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Broadmeadow Buzz
April 24, 2024
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Broadmeadow Families,
On Wednesday morning, we had our final all-school meeting for this year. We gathered in the Performance Center and each classroom and special area shared exemplars of our school rules. The slideshow attached here is a wonderful collection of photos and rules that show our students doing an incredible job taking care of themselves, each other and our school. It is always helpful for families to support our use of school rules at home and to provide positive reinforcement to students when you observe or hear about other examples.
Last night was the Science Fair. We want to congratulate the families and students who took part! It is always a very fun and informative night and we know that the students who participated had a blast.
Do good. Be kind.
BUILDING VISITOR POLICY
- Community members who visit Broadmeadow must enter and exit through the front door. Please ring the bell to your left when you arrive. All visitors must check-in at the office and sign our visitor log.
- After ringing the bell, families who arrive to drop off student materials are asked to label all items with their student’s full name and teacher name and place them in the bin on the office counter. The office will facilitate getting materials to the student’s classroom.
- Families who arrive to pick up students early will be asked to wait outside for their child to exit the building.
CORI FORMS FOR VOLUNTEERS
Any adult who volunteers at a school event will be required to complete the CORI review process at least 4 days in advance of their visit. Completed CORI and Confidentiality forms (linked below) can be dropped off at the office or emailed to Roberta Redpath.
- CORI FORM: Please complete both sides of the CORI form being sure to include the last 6 digits of your social security number. A copy of a license or passport is also required order for the CORI to be processed.
- CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT: In addition, please return a copy of a completed confidentiality form with your CORI documents.
School News
Kids Heart Challenge!
The Kids Heart Challenge (formally "Jump Rope for Heart") will be kicked off within the next few days here at Broadmeadow Elementary! This will be our tenth year! During this wonderful event students will join millions of other students across the country in a meaningful way to learn and help others. Students will learn heart healthy information, they will jump rope to raise their heart rate, and they will have the option to raise money for the American Heart Association!
Start date: Monday April 22nd
End date: Friday May 17th
Third year in a row!! Pie the Principal (and PE teachers)! If our school gets 50% of students to register on the Kids Heart App or on the Kids Heart Website, taking the challenge to SHOW GRATITUDE (NO MONEY NEEDED TO BE RAISED), we will have an opportunity to pie Mr. Garlick, Ms. List and the PE teachers!
Please notify Mrs. Kuz (beth_kuzmeski@needham.k12.ma.us), Mr. Darling (luke_darling@needham.k12.ma.us), or Ms. Stickney (fiona_stickney@needham.k12.ma.us) if you have any questions.
Thank you so much for all you do!
Sincerely,
Your Broadmeadow PE team
School Committee Information Session - April 27
The Needham School Committee invites community members to learn more about the Pollard Middle School Feasibility warrant article that will be voted on at the upcoming May Town Meeting.
Needham School Committee Open House at Pollard Middle School
200 Harris Avenue
Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Tours of the school will be available
The School Committee and School Administration look forward to providing information on the article and answering any questions you may have.
Vegetarian Options at the Elementary Schools
Nutrition Services would like to bring awareness of the many vegetarian options available to students.
Everyday Options:
Whole Grain Bagels with yogurt, cheese sticks, hummus or chickpea spread
Whole Grain Pretzel with yogurt, cheese sticks, hummus or chickpea spread
Sunbutter & Jelly Sandwiches
Varying Options Depending on Menu of the Day:
On days we serve chicken - veggie nuggets
On days we serve a hot dog - veggie hot dog
On days we serve a hamburger - veggie burger
On days we serve ground turkey or beef - Deeply Rooted Pea Protein Crumbles
Every morning, your student is given the option to order these items in class.
Thank you so much for having your student eat meals with us and we are always open to new ideas, please reach out to us!
Needham Nutrition Services
follow us @NPSNutrition
Yellow School Bus Registration
Dear Families,
2024-2025 yellow bus registration is open. We will again be using MySchoolBucks for bus registration. Please note that there are different service fees depending on what form of payment you choose. Those differences are noted when you begin registration on MySchoolBucks. Please also note that you must put in a payment method in order to complete your registration, regardless of eligibility for free transportation. If you are eligible for free transportation, we will remove the fee when we process the registration on our end.
Click on the link below for more details and instructions regarding how to register your student(s) for the yellow bus if you live in Needham.
Bus Registration - Needham Routes
Please note that the links to MySchoolBucks and other registration forms will not "work" until 4/2/24 at 8am.
If you qualify for free and reduced lunch, please remember that you need to apply for free and reduced lunch annually. When you apply, you must check the box on the application that permits Nutrition to share the information with Transportation, so that we may waive your fee when we process your bus registration. Failing to do so will result in delayed processing of your bus registration.
If you intend to have a student ride the bus you must register for the bus, regardless of eligibility for free transportation or participation in the Free and Reduced Lunch program.
Thank you,
Shane Marchand
Transportation Director
Needham Public Schools
781-455-0400 X11234
Please subscribe to our Transportation listserv https://lists.needham.k12.ma.us/mailman/listinfo/transportation
or
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/NeedhamPSTrans
or
Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NeedhamPSTrans/
Register Now for Summer Explorations!
Summer Explorations 2024 offers classes for rising grades 1-9 students. Classes for rising grades 1-5 are held at Sunita Williams. Classes for Rising grades 6-9 are held at High Rock.
WEEK 1 : July 8 - July 12
WEEK 2 : July 15 - July 19
WEEK 3 : July 22 - July 26
WEEK 4 : July 29 - August 2
Enroll in any or all weeks.
Many of our classes have filled -- grab your spot today!
Summer Explorations Registration link
Summer Explorations Catalog link
Did you know that most of our Summer Explorations Instructors are Teachers and Staff of Needham Public Schools? We celebrate having such highly talented and extremely qualified Instructors. It is very likely that your student will see many familiar faces this summer, creating a comforting, creative and joyful experience for all!
Summer Explorations is open to ALL students, not just Needham residents. Invite your out-of-district friends and family to join in on the fun!
Scholarship assistance is available for students with financial hardships. No student will be denied access into an NCE program because of inability to pay. Any student on scholarship is eligible to join one week at a reduced rate. Those with hardship may apply for 60% off one NCE week per session, per student. Those participating in the State Public Assistance Program may receive 85% off one NCE week per session, per student. To apply for Scholarship Assistance, please contact NCE by May 15, 2024.
For questions regarding Summer Explorations registration and/or scholarships, please contact:
NCE Office: 781-455-0400 x5 -or- NCEsummer@needham.k12.ma.us
Scholarships: NCE Program Coordinator, Rita_Jarvis@needham.k12.ma.us
Are you moving, or do you have a child transferring into or out of Broadmeadow?
If you will be moving to a new address, enrolling a child into grades 1 thru 5, or leaving the district to attend private school, please be sure to notify Roberta Redpath via email at:
roberta_redpath@needham.k12.ma.us or 781-455-0448 x306.
Anyone moving within the Broadmeadow district or within Needham must also communicate directly with the town registrar, Penny Belezos (penny_belezos@needham.k12.ma.us) in order to officially change your address in powerschool. School secretaries are not able to make these changes, and can mail documents only to the address listed in powerschool.
Contact Information for Family Support
Andy Garlick, Principal
Chanit List, Assistant Principal
Laurie Blakely, K-2 Guidance
Katie Lizotte, 3-5 Guidance
Jacqui Murphy, Connections Guidance
Health News
Grade 5 Postural Screening
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Law Title XII Chapter 71 Section 57 requires yearly postural screening starting in Grade 5
The purpose of postural screening is threefold: 1.) to detect early signs of spinal problems that may require further medical evaluation, 2.) to provide regular monitoring, and 3.) to allow for early intervention to reduce the need for surgical remedies. Screening must be done annually in grades 5 through 9 (approximately ages 10-14). People in this age group are experiencing a time of rapid growth.
Dates to be determined after Spring Break-please discuss this requirement and determine what is best for your child. I will send a reminder email when the date for your student’s class is set.
If you prefer to opt your child out of postural screening please send me an email or a signed note to that effect. Most students have their backs checked for scoliosis at their annual physical.
If your child prefers, remember to remind your student to wear a sports bra or the like on the day of screening. It is important that the screener is able to see the entire back. Privacy is provided in the health office.
I will notify parents/guardians via letter and/or phone of any abnormal findings; keep in mind this screening is intended to supplement your child’s primary health care and is not to provide a medical diagnosis.
GRADE 4- UPDATED PHYSICAL EXAMS
Please send your student’s most recent physical to me
Community News
Plugged in Band Summer Opportunities
Fill your summer with music, song writing, recording, music video production and more at Plugged In Band Program, Needham Center. Sign-ups for Plugged In Band Program’s Music That Matters: Summer Day Camp and Evening Band Classes, are now open. All programming begins July 08, 2024. Plugged In is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating positive change through music.
Register online at www.pluggedinband.org.
Needham Open Studios 2024
Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5 from 11am-4pm each day
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Needham’s community of award-winning artists. Get around town, meet the artists, learn from demonstrations and activities, and see great original art.
Find the list of participating artists and map of their locations at NeedhamOpenStudios.com.
NHS’s VOCAL SUPPORT a Cappella Concert is Coming on Friday, April 26th!
One Night Only! Come enjoy a family-friendly night of a Cappella, featuring all four fabulous NHS a Cappella groups and special guests! This concert will take place on Friday, April 26th at 7:00 pm in the Needham High School auditorium. Don’t miss it!
Buy YOUR TICKETS HERE! Tickets will be available at the door while supplies last.
Proceeds from this concert are donated to a charity of the students’ choice. This year, the students have chosen to support Generic Ministry, whose mission is to provide basic necessities and compassion to people living on the streets of Boston.
See you at the show!
Needham Youth and Family Services Event
Lynn Lyons is coming! In our next Mindful Community event, Lynn Lyons who is a nationally recognized speaker on anxiety with over 30 years of clinical experience will be presenting a workshop titled "Modeling Matters: What Parents (and Caregivers) need to know (and do) to decrease stress, worry, and anxiety in kids and teens. Lynn will be offering practical advice and useful supports to parents and caregivers whose kids are struggling. She is a dynamic presenter and will be in-person on Thursday, May 9th at 7:00 pm at Broadmeadow Performance Center. The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, please use this link. https://bit.ly/MindfulMay9
Needham Junior Football & Cheer
- Needham Junior Football & Cheer’s Fall 2024 season is now open. Football is open to Needham athletes grades 4-8, cheer for grades 1-8.
- Email needhamjfc@gmail.com if you have any questions
- Visit our website for more information or to register: https://needhamfootball.net/
Parent/Guardian Education Event
Edibles, Vapes & Spiked Seltzers: Tips for talking with your teen about drugs & alcohol in today’s world will be presented on Tuesday, May 14, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm at Pollard Middle School auditorium
The program will include:
- A presentation by Dr. Safdar Medina, Pediatric Director at Tri River Health Center and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School.
- A panel discussion with Tamatha Bibbo, Principal at Pollard Middle School and Sara Shine, Director of Needham Youth & Family Services. A Needham High School student from the SALSA program (Students Advocating for Life Without Substance Abuse) will speak about the prevention work SALSA does in the 8th grade Wellness classes.
Registration accessible here: https://tinyurl.com/3vybhwp4.
Needham Parent Survey on Youth Substance Use
Every two years, the Substance Prevention Alliance of Needham (SPAN), in collaboration with the Needham Public Health Division, surveys parents of 6th – 12th graders who attend school in Needham to learn about their personal beliefs and perceptions regarding underage drinking and substance use and misuse among youth. The survey is anonymous and helps inform SPAN’s work to address youth substance use in Needham. Interested parents can access the survey here: https://bit.ly/needhamsurvey until Friday, April 26.